GUWAHATI,
DEC. 17.
The self-styled Commander-in-Chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom(ULFA) is "seriously ill and has been shifted to a safe place for an urgent medical operation," said the ULFA chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, in a statement tonight in Assamese through e-mail. Mr. Rajkhowa said because of the illness, Mr. Barua would, for now, not maintain his usual regular communication with the noted litterateur, Indira Goswami (Momoni Raisom Goswami) and other intellectuals, media persons and various organisations.

Mr. Rajkhowa appealed to Dr. Goswami and all others to forward him their suggestions and advice through the e-mail address rubibhuyan@ yahoo.com.

Mr. Rajkhowa wished Mr. Barua a speedy recovery on behalf of all ULFA cadres. However, he did not disclose details of Mr. Barua's illness.

Meanwhile, the strategy group of the three-tier Unified Command Structure of the Army, Assam Police and Central Para-Military Forces, which met here today, decided to step up counter- insurgency operations in the State in the wake of a fresh spurt in violence by the ULFA.